Labour MP for Hitchin, Alistair Strathern, and Independent Central Bedfordshire Council Leader, Cllr Adam Zerny, have joined forces to highlight the need for Government action on the growing issue of unadopted estates. In a joint letter to the Housing Minister, they’ve called for swift reforms to end the exploitation of homeowners stuck in “fleece-hold” limbo.
Thousands of families across the country are left exposed to unregulated managing agents charging sky-high fees for poor-quality maintenance. The letter highlights the lack of regulation overseen by the previous government, which allows developers to dodge responsibility, effectively creating a two-tier system where some residents pay both council tax and eye watering management fees.
Strathern and Zerny welcomed the government’s manifesto commitment to address “fleece-hold” but urged action; emphasising the need for binding standards, mandatory adoptions, and enforceable timelines, as recommended by the Competition and Markets Authority.
Commenting, Alistair Strathern MP said:
“It’s been heartbreaking to hear how the broken leasehold system and unfair ground rent terms are impacting local families.
“For far too long, managing agents have exploited residents, leaving them out of pocket and without accountability. Bold and decisive action is overdue to end this injustice.
“I am committed to working with the new Labour government to fix the failures we’ve inherited and deliver the comprehensive reforms to leasehold and freehold systems”.
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